Like the rest of the country, St Paul’s Church hall had to go in to lock down in March which had a lasting impact with Mini Stars, the well-run and friendly nursery, on site, sadly having to close.

Fortunately CALAT (Croydon Adult Learning and Training) are now renting the former nursery premises on a temporary basis to help teach practical English skills for adults and children in the area where English isn’t their first language.

With the support of the church, Lioness Circle, which is a support group for black and ethnic women survivors of sexual abuse and violence, has been providing food parcels for those suffering from domestic violence who are living in hostels with no access to cooking facilities. The need for these parcels has increased so much over COVID and The church hall is also supporting Let’s Craft – a craft (mainly knitting) group meeting on a Monday but many of the social prescribing activities including the senior exercise class, Mindfulness classes and the Yoga class, have stopped.

The church risk-assessments has made the hall COVID-secure which means it is now slowly coming back into use. EM Performing Arts have begun dance classes again and others are returning as soon as they practically can.

Parish administrator Gill Borthwick said: “The great thing though is that the hall is open again subject to any other restrictions that may be imposed and is again a place where people can socialise and take part in activities which is so vital to keep the morale up in these strange times.”

Please use the form below if you wish to enquiry about hiring St Paul’s Church Hall:

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• Scene in Croydon is donating £5 from every sale of its Thornton Heath prints to the Salvation Army until the end of the year.

The Salvation Army centre and shop on the High Street are still closed sadly due to Covid. There are three Thornton Heath prints to choose from :
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SceneInCroydon